Archive for “Outdoors” Category

FALL PLANTING IN THE ARIZONA DESERT

October 3, 2017

The fall planting season has arrived! Temperatures are cooler, and it’s a great time to replace plants you may have lost during the hot summer. Why is fall planting so good for plants? Soil temperatures are still warm, encouraging root growth and development and allowing plants to get much better established before next summer’s heat sets in. Also, with cooler …

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CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT ROOSEVELT LAKE

September 30, 2017

Tamara C. shared this photo overlooking Roosevelt Lake and bridge from a rocky shoreline.  ABOUT THE LAKE Roosevelt Lake was created in 1911 after the completion of Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River as part of the Salt River Project. The dam enabled early settlers to grow citrus, cotton, and even farm animals. The dam continues to provide a means of …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH – DESERT MILKWEED

August 31, 2017

Description Desert Milkweed, Asclepias subulata,  has slender gray-green stems that grow vertically to 4 feet from a woody base. The plant’s spread can reach 2 feet or more. Leaves 2 inches long by 1/8-inch-wide appear on new growth but soon drop. The white milky sap that oozes from cut stems contains rubber. From spring through fall, flat-topped clusters of pale …

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Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed

IT’S THE PERFECT TIME … TO KILL YOUR LAWN!

August 15, 2017

It’s summertime! Your grass is finally greening up and is even filling in nicely where you had brown spots. The conditions are perfect … perfect for killing your lawn, that is. Keeping a green, attractive lawn isn’t a simple task in the low desert. Grass doesn’t just grow where there is bare ground. You have to water it, feed it, …

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SAVE YOUR TREES FROM MONSOON DAMAGE

August 1, 2017

Monsoon season is upon us and one important change you can make to help prevent ‘wind throw” (trees blowing over) has to do with watering. You should avoid watering near the trunk. Wet soil near the trunk discourages roots from growing out to the edge of the canopy where they should be. Wet soil near the trunk is also unstable and …

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Save your trees from monsoon damage

FOUR TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR BACKYARD GREEN WHILE SAVING WATER

July 25, 2017

Discover how to keep your backyard healthy and environmentally friendly Maintaining a sustainable backyard can be difficult during summer months. However, you can keep your yard green and healthy without water waste by implementing these four tips. Take advantage of native plants Keeping your backyard healthy and vibrant starts with the plants you’re using. In order to more easily save …

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CELEBRATE AZ WATER WITH US AT LAKE MARY

July 21, 2017

C. Sullivan shared a photo where water meets the perfect sunset! Looking for a summer getaway to escape the heat of the Valley? You might want to consider Flagstaff, and a visit to Upper or Lower Lake Mary. These lakes offer a number of outdoor activities and are open year-round. Lower Lake Mary and Upper Lake Mary, two reservoirs in …

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MAKE YOUR BACKYARD POND AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSET

July 14, 2017

With a shift away from grass-filled lawns that require water, energy, and resources like gas and oil to maintain, many people are seeing the benefits of more natural landscaping environments that include water features. Below are some methods you can use to maximize the positive environmental impact of your backyard pond. Enhance Nature, Don’t Disrupt it When you’re looking to …

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DRAB TO FAB BACKYARD REHAB: AND THE WINNER IS…

June 30, 2017

We are thrilled to announce the winner of this year’s Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab giveaway. DRUMROLL please! Congratulations to Paul M. from Tempe, Arizona! Out of a record-breaking 11,576 entries, Paul has won a gorgeous Xeriscape landscape makeover package valued at $9,000. Paul, who grew up in Scottsdale and is a flight attendant with American Airlines, is thrilled for the …

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CELEBRATE AZ WATER – ARIZONA FALLS SHOWCASES ART, HISTORY, AND TECHNOLOGY

June 27, 2017

The transformation of a historic waterfall by SRP and the Phoenix Arts Commission allows Phoenix-area residents to experience something old and something new. Arizona Falls, formed by a natural 20-foot drop along the Arizona Canal just east of 56th Street and Indian School, was reopened in June 2003 as a restored hydroelectric plant and neighborhood-gathering place where visitors can learn, …

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HERE’S TO WINE AND WATER

June 19, 2017

A Water Fund and an Exchange for the Verde River The Verde Valley of north-central Arizona doesn’t boast vineyards of the extent and or tradition of fine vintages from the Napa or the Willamette valleys. However, if Eric Glomski has anything to say about it, those growers will soon take notice of what he’s up to on the banks of …

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GLOBAL WATER DANCES ARRIVES IN SCOTTSDALE

June 16, 2017

This is the first year that Global Water Dances will be performed in Arizona. I first heard of Global Water Dances five years ago when I was living in Connecticut. I was in the middle of a certification program in movement analysis. Part of my training included using movement and dance as a tool to build communities and social cohesion. …

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